A Rare 1930's Chinese Officer's Cap

A Rare 1930's Chinese Officer's Cap - Exterior in black wool with two gold-coloured bullion bands and a thin row of gold-bullion piping above running around the circumference, three rows of thin gold-coloured piping forming a large star on the top and ringed in a row of thin gold-coloured piping, with a slightly recessed inner lip four single strips of gold-coloured piping radiating from the ring around the star and joining onto the piping on the side of the cap. The front is adorned with an independent Nationalist Chinese (Republican) insignia, illustrating the sun in silver bullion on a blue wool field, surrounded by gold-coloured bullion open-ended wreath of cherry blossoms, accented with sequins, ringed in silver wire, held in place via a black string fed through the underside. The visor peak is adorned with two facing cherry blossom motifs fronted by a row of trim, all in gold-coloured bullion, the cherry blossoms accented with sequins, the visor with a black wool upper and the edge trimmed in black leather, gold-coloured bullion band chinstrap with black wool backer resting upon the visor, with two slider adjustments, held in place on either side with bronze buttons, each illustrating a cherry blossom. The underside of the reinforced visor in brown leather, with a 52 mm wide reddish-brown sweatband stitched to the frame of the cap, the dome lined in red silk, in a pleated design and centered by a circular disk, black cloth manufacturer's label at the rear, in silver threading inscribed with the "DAI DONG & Co. NANKING" maker's name in English and Chinese (Mandarin) and the National Chinese sun insignia, the cap measuring 190 mm x 240 mm x 110 mm in height. Exhibiting moderate soiling on the underside of the visor, light wear on the sweatband and leather edge trim, without interruptions in the fabrics on the exterior and interior, near extremely fine. Accompanied by two reproduction photographs of Chiang Kai-shek.

Measuring 403 mm in length with the scabbard on, nickel-plated steel blade, magnetic, fuller in the middle of the blade on both sides, with dull edges and a semi-sharp tip, exhibiting the usual in and out runner marks and scattered surface wear, the blade measuring 255 mm in length and rating better than fine. Brass crossguard and ferrule, the latter held in place by a screw on the reverse, oxidation evident on the upper of the crossguard, the handle in faux tortoise shell and wrapped in eight rows of twisted wire, the wire loose on two rows, bronze plates on either side illustrating plum blossoms, oxidation evident on one plate, with crossed flags of the Kuomintang and the Republic at the pommel end, a Republic sun insignia on the pommel's cap with a slight dent present, the dagger measuring 378 mm in length. The scabbard with a silvered brass body, non-magnetic, the u-shaped finial and locket in bronze, both held in place by a single screw, each illustrating plum blossoms, the locket slightly loose, the scabbard measuring 278 mm in length, the body of the scabbard exhibiting scattered silvering loss and dents from active use. Fine.
Footnote: The Kuomintang is a Chinese political party that ruled China from 1927 to 1948 and then moved to Taiwan. The name translates as "China's National People's Party" and was historically referred to as the Chinese Nationalists. The Party was initially founded on August 25, 1912, by Sun Yat-sen but dissolved in November 1913. It reformed on October 10, 1919, again led by Sun Yat-sen, and became the ruling party in China. After Sun's death, the party was dominated from 1927 to 1975 by Chiang Kai-shek. Though the KMT lost the civil war with the Communist Party of China in 1949, the party took control of Taiwan and remains a major political party of the Republic of China based in Taiwan.

In cotton with hand painted Chinese characters stating the People and Army of China Call Upon the the People of America to Help Defend China; Issued the Aviation Committee of the Peoples Republic of China; Portions are separately sewn and lettering hand done, very fine.

A Large Chinese Trousse - Measuring 33 cm in length this is a larger example of this type. With nearly a 22 cm blade, the hilt is in hollow silvered bronze with a steel blade. Well worn and matched with a replacement scabbard that protects the trousse from future wear. Fair overall. (C:41)

Measuring 420 mm in length with the scabbard on, nickel-plated steel blade, magnetic, fuller in the middle of the blade on both sides, with dull edges and having had the tip broken off, exhibiting the usual in and out runner marks and scattered surface wear, measuring 247 mm in length and rating very fine. Brass crossguard and ferrule, the latter held in place by a screw on the reverse, pitting evident on the reverse of the crossguard, the handle in faux tortoise shell and wrapped in eight rows of twisted wire, bronze plates on either side illustrating plum blossoms flanking the Republican sun insignia with crossed flags of the Kuomintang and the Republic at the pommel end, a Republic sun insignia on the pommel's cap with denting present. The scabbard with a silvered steel body, magnetic, the u-shaped finial, locket and throat in bronze, both illustrating the Republican sun insignia on both sides and incorporating ornate half-moon shaped patterns. Leather frog has two 10 mm wide straps affixed via a single rivet each, each strap with a buckle and a single row of three holes for length adjustment, the body of the scabbard exhibiting a small dent in the mid portion and overall surface wear, the leather frog and straps exhibiting crazing and wear from active use. Very fine.

Footnote: The Kuomintang is a Chinese political party that ruled China from 1927 to 1948 and then moved to Taiwan. The name translates as "China's National People's Party" and was historically referred to as the Chinese Nationalists. The Party was initially founded on August 25, 1912, by Sun Yat-sen but dissolved in November 1913. It reformed on October 10th 1919, again led by Sun Yat-sen, and became the ruling party in China. After Sun's death, the party was dominated from 1927 to 1975 by Chiang Kai-shek. Though the KMT lost the civil war with the Communist Party of China in 1949, the party took control of Taiwan and remains a major political party of the Republic of China based in Taiwan.